How to care for and water hydrangeas in winter?

Hydrangea is loved for its diverse varieties, rich colors, unique flower shapes and bright flowers, and has extremely high ornamental value. Their flowering period is usually from June to August every year. So, how to care for and water hydrangeas in winter?

1. Pruning

In late autumn, before winter, prune hydrangeas moderately. Mainly remove dead flowers, withered branches, diseased branches and messy branches, shorten overly long branches, and thin out overly dense branches. Such pruning helps reduce nutrient consumption, facilitates wintering, and lays the foundation for flowering next spring. Be careful to keep the branches with buds, as these are the key to flowering next year.

2. Temperature

Hydrangea is not resistant to severe cold. The most suitable growth temperature is 18-28℃. The temperature in winter should not be lower than 5℃ to prevent the plant from being frozen and affecting germination and flowering in the next year. Therefore, hydrangeas should be moved indoors in time, and warming measures should be taken, such as wrapping them in transparent plastic bags or films to maintain the temperature.

3. Lighting

The sunlight is relatively soft in winter and the temperature is relatively low, so hydrangeas should be placed in a place with sufficient light. More sunlight will help keep the plants in good condition, safely overwinter, and promote flowering next year.

4. Water and fertilizer management

Hydrangeas should be watered less in winter, and the frequency and amount of watering should be adjusted according to the ambient temperature. When the temperature is suitable and the plants continue to grow, add water appropriately to prevent the soil from being too dry. In low temperature conditions, watering should be reduced to prevent frostbite.

Hydrangea should stop fertilizing or reduce fertilization in winter to maintain the dormant balance of the plant. If you need to enhance the plant's cold resistance through fertilization, you can use a 1000-fold diluted potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution to water the plant before the temperature drops in winter, about once every 20 days.

To sum up, through the above winter maintenance measures, you can ensure that hydrangeas can safely survive the winter and bloom more and larger flowers in the spring of next year.